Categories: Rumors

We've been hearing things - good things - about the McLaren P12 for a long time now. The P12 is the spiritual successor to the F1 - one of the greatest supercars of modern times, so suffice it to say, anticipation is high. That anticipation won't last too much longer if new rumors about a spring debut prove true.

GTSpirit reports this week that the P12 will be revealed at the Monaco Grand Prix event in May. While a May debut sounds enticing, don't get your hopes up. It's not clear if the Monaco unveiling (if it even happens) will be a public unveiling or one of those quiet, shadowy showings for ultra-wealthy clients. So we may have to scour the Internet for leaked information and photos rather than official details. Hopefully, we'll get something in May, though.

A particularly savvy reader recently submitted an interested query: “I would love to see a blog about the rapid moving stats of trade in SUVs and compact car purchases. The gas hike is early this year, how is it impacting the pre-owned market.” As you might expect, nailing down market trends relative to gas price influence is a difficult task – especially so early in the year. But we’re always up for a challenge.

Fortunately or not, depending on your perspective, the premature gas price increases we’ve experienced have generated more than just oodles of critical media attention. Fuel efficient new car sales have also soared.

Well, when you’re good, you’re good. The Polish car magazine Motodziennik recently posted pics of the upcoming, all-new Volvo V40 which was originally set to debut at the Geneva Auto Show. Despite months of careful cover ups and snowy sojourns, Volvo has been unable to avoid the inevitable, the ineffable internet community. And so, for the first time we have images which actually depict what a production V40 might look like.

Hot dang, it looks good.

Over the past decade Volvo has slowly chipped away at the company’s wagon offerings, first with the previous V40 in 2004 and finally an aging V50 in 2011. What we’re left with is a Swedish, pseudo-Chinese lineup which fails to pay tribute to the company’s hallmark wagon heritage and instead relies on a mash up of sedans and SUVs – with the exception of the XC70. Luckily, all that’s about to change.

Despite the fact that about half of all 911s sold in the United States are equipped with a manual transmission, a prominent Porsche engineer feels Stuttgart will phase out manuals by the end of the decade. Automated manual transmissions like Porsche's seven-speed dual-clutch PDK have just come too far in combining the driving advantages of traditional manuals with the ease of use of automatics.

Porsche 911 project manager Michael Schätzle - whose name most certainly rhymes with my favorite German side dish - told Automobile magazine that he foresees the manual hitting extinction within the next generation or two of the 911. Schätzle said that about 78 percent of 911 buyers globally are already opting for the seven-speed PDK, and he sees the increased speed and efficiency as too attractive to let the manual survive much longer.

Prior to this week, if we were asked to envision a four-seat Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, it would most certainly have been a 2 + 2 with only the gullwing doors providing entry. After all, the gullwings seem to offer plenty of entry room - just flip that front seat forward and duck into the rear. If some newly leaked German patent filings point to an actual creation, Mercedes has something different in mind.

Mercedes is thinking an actual four-door SLS AMG. Instead of just dropping the gullwings - the way it did on the SLS AMG Roadster - in favor of four traditional doors, Mercedes patent filings show the gullwing doors intact. Since there is no B pillar to attach regular rear doors to, Mercedes goes with suicide doors in the design.

Just today, one of the super savvy bloggers at Inside Line posted spy shots of an unknown truck seen in the greater Los Angeles area. Thus far only a few small clues exist which help identify this modern day mystery machine. Needless to say, the vehicle’s heavy camouflage and metal bed make the labeling process a more difficult task, but never fear.

Michigan manufacturer plates create a strong case for this being a product of the Big Three.

Mike Magrath, from Inside Line, speculates that the vehicle could be about the size of a Toyota Tundra, but the front might be considered to follow a Dodge aesthetic. But, if you ask me – a risky decision generally – these images show a commercial variant of the future Ford Ranger.

Rumors have been cycling for a while now, but these are the first official images of the Mini Clubvan concept which is set to debut at Geneva’s Auto Show in March. While panel vans continue to be popular in Europe, the stateside trend has remained somewhat lukewarm since Chevrolet introduced the HHR Panel and Ford unveiled the Ford Transit Connect. But perhaps Mini’s Clubvan concept will be fun or functional enough to convince US buyers to become panel van friendly. Perhaps the Clubvan will entice buyers not previously interested in the Mini brand or panel vans in general.

Enter the 39% of United States households which own at least one dog.

To be fair, we aren’t sure the Clubvan will ever reach US soil or even final production elsewhere. But if the vehicle ever enters the land of the free, you can bet your lucky socks that pet owners will be the primary buying demographic.

There are really only so many people that will put down money on a tiny mini-car. Sure, these small cars boast great gas mileage, but they're not exactly equipped to handle many passengers or much cargo. They just aren't practical for every driver.

Mini, a company founded on the idea of tiny minicars, has slowly been growing its offerings with larger cars like the Countryman and Clubman. Though it may return to its tiny roots with a Rocketman-inspired production car, the company has no plans of abandoning larger vehicles. In fact, it plans to build both a van and station wagon.

Infiniti is considering building a sports car based on the Nissan GT-R. A GT-R-based coupe is one of the options that Nissan's luxury brand is considering for a potential flagship.

Francois Bancon, head of advanced planning for Infiniti, told CAR magazine that an Infiniti GT-R is one of three or four different models the company is considering for the top of its range. He said that the GT-R platform is "too good a platform to use only on one model." It's hard to disagree with that.

Earlier this week, some pictures alleged to be the upcoming Lamborghini SUV leaked across the Internet. Several publications and blogs tried to confirm the photos, and it appears one was successful. Like it or not, the Lamborghini crossover cometh.

What a sad day. We were really hoping those pictures were fake. Or at least that Lamborghini hadn't actually decided on the SUV. But, according to an Auto News report, the SUV is quite real.

Last year Chrysler unveiled the “Imported from Detroit” ad campaign and the world took notice. From snazzy apparel to enthusiastic newspaper headlines and everything in between, Chrysler’s slogan struck a nerve with just about anyone who would listen – even garnering an Emmy.

And this year’s Super Bowl commercial looks to be no different…except for one big change. This time Eminem will make way for the man, myth, and legend: Clint Eastwood.

2012 will be the second year in a row that Chrysler airs a full two minute Super Bowl commercial, which has apparently become something of a growing trend among companies. The traditional 30 second advertising spot has been Norrised (a la Chuck) in favor of more expensive, entertaining, and ultimately effective campaigns which now have plenty of time to reference a happy animal, show an attractive person, make a joke, and concomitantly sell a product.